As for his top pick, by veteran metal act ANATHEMA, Wagner says: "I didn't think they still had this kind of album in them, but they do."

"When I'm nestled in the dark of my music room," he explains, "inescapably tuned into a particular album, that's exactly what I feel like I'm doing: comprehending infinity. Or getting close. It doesn't happen often, but the albums listed here helped me almost get there... The ANATHEMA actually landed me right on 'Planet Infinity' a few times."

In the meantime, Wagner's book, "Mean Deviation", earned year-end kudos of its own from AOL's Noisecreep and Metal-Rules.com, and has been hailed by members of CYNIC, FATES WARNING, DREAM THEATER, VOIVOD, PORCUPINE TREE, and others.

For more information, chapter sample, complete index, or to buy the book, go to this location.

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